Lilac plant named ‘Bailsugar’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct highly ornamental cultivar of  Syringa meyeri×Syringa microphylla  is provided. A Lilac plant having a rounded neat compact dwarf growth habit is described. Highly attractive trusses of fragrant purple-lilac blossoms are formed in mid- to late-spring. Good winter hardiness is made possible and the plant has been found to be relatively free of insect and disease problems during observations to date. The plant is particularly well-suited for growing as an ornamental specimens or as a mass planting in the landscape.

Botanical commercial classification: Syringa hybrida/Lilac Shrub.

Varietal denomination: cv. ‘Bailsugar’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Lilac plant of the present invention was created at Harwood,N.D., by the cross of Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’ (not-patented in theUnited States) and Syringa microphylla ‘Superba’ (non-patented in theUnited States). The parentage can be summarized as follows:‘Palibin’×‘Superba’.Seeds from the cross were collected during 1976, were planted, and theresulting plants were observed. A single plant of new cultivar wasselected during 1985 in view of its distinctive combination ofornamental characteristics. This plant initially was designated No.81-3.

It was found that the cultivar of Syringa meyeri×Syringa microphyllaexhibits the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) exhibits a rounded neat compact dwarf growth habit,    -   (b) forms attractive trusses of fragrant purple-lilac blossoms        in mid- to late-spring and after many early-flowering shrubs,    -   (c) is relatively free of insect and disease problems, and    -   (d) is well-suited for growing as a distinctive ornamental shrub        in the landscape.

The new cultivar of the present invention provides a distinctivepurple-lilac blossom coloration to the landscape that is displayed inmid- to late-spring after many other shrubs have finished flowering. Thepurple-lilac blossoms upon maturity fade light red-purple. It can begrown to advantage as a specimen shrub or in a mass planting. The plantis versatile for many uses in the landscape including foundationplantings and informal hedges. The superior hardiness of the Syringameyeri ‘Palibin’ parent which generally is lacking in the Syringamicrophylla ‘Superba’ parent is imparted to the new cultivar of thepresent invention. However, some winter injury has been observed underwet conditions.

The new cultivar of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom the ‘Bailbelle’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,294) and the‘Baildust’ cultivar (U.S. Plant patent application Ser. No. 10/158,047,filed May 31, 2002). More specifically, the buds of the ‘Bailbelle’cultivar are a distinctive wine color, and buds and blossoms of the‘Baildust’ cultivar are of a considerably lighter pale antique pinkcoloration.

The new cultivar of the present invention was asexually propagated bythe use of rooted cuttings and grafting at St. Paul, Minn. during 1992,and the progeny were field planted during 1993. The distinctivecharacteristics of the new cultivar have been found to be stable and thenew cultivar reproduces true to type from one generation to anotherfollowing such asexual propagation at St. Paul, Minn. and at Yamkill,Oreg.

The new cultivar of the present invention also has been grafted onSyringa reticulata to form distinctive small grafted trees.

The new cultivar of the present invention has been named ‘Bailsugar’. Itis a member of the FAIRYTALE™ Series of Lilac plants that includes the‘Bailbelle’ cultivar and the ‘Baildust’ cultivar, and is being marketedunder the SUGAR PLUM FAIRY trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as true as reasonably possible tomake the same in color illustrations of this character typical plants ofthe new cultivar. The plants were propagated by use of rooted cuttingsand were photographed when approximately three years of age whilegrowing outdoors during 1998 to 2000 in the field at St. Paul, Minn.

FIG. 1 — shows a mass planting of blossoming plants wherein the neatrounded and compact dwarf growth habit of the new cultivar is exhibited.

FIG. 2 — shows a closer view of a truss of the purple-lilac buds andblossoms as well as some foliage.

FIG. 3 — shows largely open purple-lilac blossoms with attractivefoliage.

FIG. 4 — shows a closer view of the purple-lilac blossoms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is the R.H.S. ColourChart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London. Common terms are to beaccorded their ordinary dictionary significance. The description isbased upon the observation of three and five year-old plants propagatedby the use of rooted cuttings and growing in the field at St. Paul,Minn.

-   Botanical classification: Syringa meyeri×Syringa microphylla, cv.    ‘Bailsugar’.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Neat, compact, rounded dwarf shrub.        -   Size.—Forms a shrub of approximately 5 to 6 feet in height            and width.-   Bark:    -   -   Texture.—Rough.        -   Color.—Grey-Brown Group 199B and 199C.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic/ovate.        -   Arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute to obtuse.        -   Leaf base.—Rounded.        -   Leaf length.—Approximately 3 cm on average.        -   Leaf width.—Approximately 2.3 cm on average.        -   Leaf surface.—Non-glossy.        -   Leaf margins.—Entire.        -   Color.—Medium green, Green Group 138A (upper surface) and            Green Group 138B (under surface) for young foliage, and            Green Group 137A (upper surface) and Green Group 138A (under            surface) for adult foliage. This can be compared to Green            Group 139A (upper surface) for the adult foliage of the            Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’ parent; Green Group 137A (upper            surface) and Green Group 137D (under surface) for the adult            foliage of the ‘Bailbelle’ cultivar, and Green Group 138B            (upper surface) and Green Group 138C (under surface) for the            ‘Baildust’ cultivar.        -   Petioles.—Green Group 137C on the upper surface and Green            Group 138B on the under surface.        -   Stems.—Green Group 138A (upper surface) and Greyed-Green            group 191A (under surface) of young stems, and Greyed-Green            Group 197B with highlights of Yellow-Green Group 148B on            adult wood.        -   Lenticels.—Commonly are present on stems and measure            approximately 0.1 to 0.3 cm, and are Grey-Brown Group 199C            in coloration.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Buds.—In trusses, Beetroot Purple, Red-Purple Group 71A,            with margin of Magnolia Purple, Red-Purple Group 70C (upper            surface), and Lilac Purple, Red-Purple Group 70B, blending            with Magnolia Purple, Red-Purple Group 70C and Campanula            Violet, Purple-Violet Group 82C (under surface). The length            commonly is 0.2 to 0.6 cm and width is approximately 0.25 cm            on average.        -   Flower arrangement.—Densely packed in panicles approximately            7 to 9 cm in length and approximately 5 to 6 cm in width.            Each panicle commonly contains approximately 81 blossoms on            average.        -   Flower configuration.—Tubular with four petal lobes at the            end (as illustrated).        -   Flower size.—Approximately 1.3 cm in length and 0.2 to 0.6            cm in diameter at the widest point.        -   Flower color.—When first opening the petals are Magnolia            Purple, Red-Purple Group 70C, blending with Purple-Violet            Group 80C at the margin. When blooming the petals are            between Red-Purple Group 73C and 73D with Red-Purple Group            69A at the margin (upper surface), and between Red-Purple            Group 70B and 70C (under surface). At the end of blooming            the petals are Red-Purple Group 69A (upper surface) and            Purple Group 78D with highlights of Violet Group 84C (under            surface).        -   Stamens.—Two stamens per flower, and near Purple Group 68A            with some near White Group 155D in coloration.        -   Filaments.—Red-Purple Group 62D in coloration.        -   Anthers.—Red-Purple Group 64D in coloration.        -   Pollen.—Formed in a moderate quantity and Yellow Group 4B in            coloration.        -   Pistil.—Approximately 0.3 cm in length.        -   Style.—Red-Purple Group 68D in coloration.        -   Stigma.—Yellow-Green Group 150D in the absence of pollen and            Yellow-Green Group 154D with pollen.        -   Calyx.—Cup-shaped with an entire lobe, rugose, approximately            0.2 cm in size, initially Yellow-Green Group 149D in            coloration and changing with maturity to, Phlox Pink,            Red-Purple Group 62B, and highlights of Spiraea Red,            Red-Purple Group 63D.        -   Seeds.—None found during observations to date.        -   Fragrance.—Spicy lilac.        -   Flowering time.—Mid- to late-May and after many            early-flowering shrubs have finished blooming. The new            cultivar commonly flowers during the second year from a            rooted cutting in the field or in a container. However, a            few flowers have been observed during the first year            depending upon the time of planting.        -   Flower duration.—Approximately 5 to 7 days on the plant.-   Hardiness: Can be grown in U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone Nos. 3B to 7, and    is similar to Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’ in hardiness. Withstands the    winter damage experienced by its Syringa microphylla parent which    commonly is not reliably hardy in many areas. It has survived    winters well during 1976 and 1993 at Harwood, N.D. which is on the    border between U.S.D.A. Zone Nos. 3B and 4A. It also generally has    wintered well when tested at St. Paul, Minn.; however, there was    some winter injury at such location under wet conditions. In    contrast the Syringa microphylla parent is considered to be hardy in    U.S.D.A. Zone No. 5, and cannot winter successfully in the St. Paul,    Minn., area over an extended period of time.-   Culture: Similar to the Syringa meyeri ‘Palibin’. Prefers    well-drained soil and a sunny growing location. Generally does not    well tolerate poorly drained growing conditions.-   Vegetation: Vigorous and strong.-   Disease/pest resistance: Has proven to be relatively free of disease    and insect problems during observations to date. In poorly drained    soils root diseases may occur.-   Landscape usage: Provides a hardy highly ornamental fragrant shrub    having a distinctive blossom coloration that can be grown as a    specimen plant or in a mass planting. Can be grown as a foundation    planting or as an informal hedge.

1. A new and distinct Syringa meyeri×Syringa microphylla plant havingthe following combination of characteristics: (a) exhibits a roundedneat compact dwarf growth habit, (b) forms attractive trusses offragrant purple-lilac blossoms in mid- to late-spring and after manyearly-flowering shrubs, (c) is relatively free of insect and diseaseproblems, and (d) is well-suited for growing as a distinctive ornamentalshrub in the landscape; substantially as illustrated and described.